top of page

HiRes Slab

2023

The HiRes Concrete Slab is located above a closed office space in the HiLo Unit. Situated in Dübendorf, Switzerland, the HiLo is a two-storey collaborative and flexible workspace within the Next Evolution Sustainable Building Technologies (NEST) platform on the EMpa and Eawag campus. 


We were part of the team that designed, engineered, and coordinated the fabrication of the HiRes Slab, working within a multi-disciplinary team involving three chairs at ETH Zürich and several industry partners. 


The HiRes Concrete Slab is a highly efficient structural element where we could demonstrate in a real-world project the unique advantages of the disruptive building method we developed at ETH Zürich. Using 3D-printed formworks to fabricate the slab, we could reduce material use, integrate low-energy building services, and showcase a unique and highly complex ceiling design. The highly articulated soffit of the HiRes Slab enhances the acoustic and spatial quality of the office through a unique aesthetic of flowing contours. The contours are engineered to enhance the performance of the integrated hydronic pipes, essentially transforming the entire ceiling into a giant radiant surface, efficient both for cooling and heating. With this new approach, we can make a significant positive impact on the built environment: reducing embodied carbon and operational energy, increasing user comfort, and giving architects unprecedented design freedom.

Credits:

DBT Team (development, design, and fabrication) 

Andrei Jipa, Angela Yoo, Georgia Chousou, and Prof. Dr. Benjamin Dillenburger


Project Partners 

• Block Research Group, ETH Zürich: Dr. Matthias Rippman, Francesco Ranaudo, Dr. Tom Van Mele, Prof. Dr. Philippe Block (structural design) 

• Architecture and Building Systems, ETH Zürich: Dr. Gearóid Lydon, Prof. Dr. Arno Schlueter (integrated building systems) 

• ROK Architects: Michael Knauss, Silvan Oesterle (unit architecture) 


Industry Partners and Sponsors 

Empa, Bürgin Creations, Holcim (Schweiz) AG, BASF (Schweiz) AG, Christenguss AG, Rudolf Glauser AG, Georg Ackermann Gmbh, ETH Zürich, NCCR Digital Fabrication, 


Support 

Lian Stähelin, Andi Reusser, Mike Lyrenmann, Hyuk Sung Kwon 


Photography and videography 

Schwarz Pictures, Angela Yoo, Lian Stähelin, Georgia Chousou, Andrei Jipa

HiRes Slab

2023

The HiRes Concrete Slab is located above a closed office space in the HiLo Unit. Situated in Dübendorf, Switzerland, the HiLo is a two-storey collaborative and flexible workspace within the Next Evolution Sustainable Building Technologies (NEST) platform on the EMpa and Eawag campus. 


We were part of the team that designed, engineered, and coordinated the fabrication of the HiRes Slab, working within a multi-disciplinary team involving three chairs at ETH Zürich and several industry partners. 


The HiRes Concrete Slab is a highly efficient structural element where we could demonstrate in a real-world project the unique advantages of the disruptive building method we developed at ETH Zürich. Using 3D-printed formworks to fabricate the slab, we could reduce material use, integrate low-energy building services, and showcase a unique and highly complex ceiling design. The highly articulated soffit of the HiRes Slab enhances the acoustic and spatial quality of the office through a unique aesthetic of flowing contours. The contours are engineered to enhance the performance of the integrated hydronic pipes, essentially transforming the entire ceiling into a giant radiant surface, efficient both for cooling and heating. With this new approach, we can make a significant positive impact on the built environment: reducing embodied carbon and operational energy, increasing user comfort, and giving architects unprecedented design freedom.

Credits:

DBT Team (development, design, and fabrication) 

Andrei Jipa, Angela Yoo, Georgia Chousou, and Prof. Dr. Benjamin Dillenburger


Project Partners 

• Block Research Group, ETH Zürich: Dr. Matthias Rippman, Francesco Ranaudo, Dr. Tom Van Mele, Prof. Dr. Philippe Block (structural design) 

• Architecture and Building Systems, ETH Zürich: Dr. Gearóid Lydon, Prof. Dr. Arno Schlueter (integrated building systems) 

• ROK Architects: Michael Knauss, Silvan Oesterle (unit architecture) 


Industry Partners and Sponsors 

Empa, Bürgin Creations, Holcim (Schweiz) AG, BASF (Schweiz) AG, Christenguss AG, Rudolf Glauser AG, Georg Ackermann Gmbh, ETH Zürich, NCCR Digital Fabrication, 


Support 

Lian Stähelin, Andi Reusser, Mike Lyrenmann, Hyuk Sung Kwon 


Photography and videography 

Schwarz Pictures, Angela Yoo, Lian Stähelin, Georgia Chousou, Andrei Jipa

bottom of page